July

Kit: How to buy motorcycle gloves

31 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

You hands are the most vital parts of your body for riding a bike they control your speed, your upper body balance and are unfortunately the first things to hit the deck in a crash on almost every...

How to change your tyres at home

29 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Tyre changes are quite easy to do at home if you have the right tools. A purpose-made bead breaker will get the tyre off the rim, and once the rubber is in the ‘well’ of the wheel, good quality tyre...

The importance of balancing your wheel

29 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

If you’ve got some harsh vibrations or the steering feels loose or wobbly then your front wheel could be out of balance. Those vibes will stress wheel bearings, make the tyre run hotter and could...

Tyre advice: Running different tyres

29 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Q. I ride a 1997 VFR750, a superb bike. On the front I have a perfect Bridgestone Battlax BT56 with lots of tread left. My question is, can I replace the worn out BT57 with a new Bridgestone Battlax...

Can adjusting your chain affect the suspension?

22 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

In short, yes. When the suspension is compressed to about one third, the front sprocket, swingarm pivot and rear spindle form a straight line. Compare and buy motorcycle suspension This is the...

Suspension advice: Replacing fork seals

22 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

The first piece of advice for replacing for seals would be to always get a workshop manual of some description when stripping major components down, if only for the torque settings. Compare and buy...

Tyre advice: Good tyres for light trail use

22 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Q. I have a 2009 Triumph Tiger 1050, which I am delighted with. I am well aware it is not a full-blown off-road motorcycle, but I would like to improve the grip on light trail use, without sacrificing...

Where to go for suspension

16 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Here’s a list of useful contacts in the suspension world. Whether it’s set-up advice, work or shock and fork components, these guys are among the country’s greatest. Harris Performance, Hertford.

USD versus conventional forks

16 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Suspension-wise, given springs and dampers of equal quality, there is no difference between upside-down and conventional forks. But the fork leg is not a suspension unit, it is also a structural...

Fork 'pump down' explained

10 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Pump down, or packing, occurs when you hit a series of bumps after dialling in too much rebound damping. Because you’ve over-slowed the rate at which the suspension can return once it’s compressed,...

Unsprung weight explained

10 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Sprung weight is the mass of those parts supported by the suspension. Unsprung is the rest; wheels, tyres, brakes, chain etc. Changing the unsprung weight has no direct effect on springing (as it’s...

How to repair a puncture

10 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

If you need to repair a puncture at the roadside, there are several methods you can use. There are preventative sealants out there that are designed to seal off a puncture as soon as it...

Kit: Buying waterproofs

03 July 2009 by Rob Hull

There’s three key things to consider when buying waterproofs – they’re completely waterproof (obvious, but there are things to look for), they’ve quick and easy to get on and they’re...

Suspension advice: 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R: Setting the suspension for you

02 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

I have just bought a 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R Mille. I have no idea who has fiddled with the suspension in the past or how it’s set up now. It will be a while before I get on a track to have it tweaked...

How to tell when it's time to change your suspension

01 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Age takes its toll on the rubber seals through degradation and springs sag as the coils deform under the continued load. You can spot seal problems such as perishing or oil leaks, but to check springs...

British Standards for puncture repairs

01 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

A British standard exists for motorcycle tyre repairs (BSAU159f), which determines the strength of the repair and where it can and can’t be made in the tyre. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres Being a...